Joining and attachment piece for corrugated tubes

Abstract

In a housing (3) of an attachment piece (1), at least one hollow core space (5) for receiving one end of a corrugated tube (2) is available. In this hollow core space (5) between the corrugated tube (2) and the housing (3), a sleeve (4) is disposed into which the end of the corrugated tube (2) is inserted. On this sleeve (4) elastic elements (15, 16) are present which are pressed toward an axis (29) of the attachment piece (1), through an outer ring (23) on the housing (3). At least one of the elastic elements (15, 16) is equipped with one positioning element (20) and a locking element (24), with these elements (20, 24) engaging an aperture (21) in the housing (3). The connection between corrugated tube (2) and housing (3) can only be broken with an auxiliary tool and is therefore protected against unintentional detachment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Joining and attachment piece (1) for a corrugated tube (2) having a cylinder surface (10) with depressions (9) therein, comprising: a housing (3) defining at least one hollow core space (5) with an inner cylinder surface (11), an insertion opening (6) for receiving one end of the tube (2), and an opposite through-passage (7), the housing having an outer ring (23) defining an insertion opening into the core space for receiving an end of the tube (2), and a counterpiece (21) in the housing (3) for receiving a positioning element; and   a sleeve (4) in the hollow core space (5) positioned between the inner cylinder surface (11) and the outer cylinder surface (10) of the end of tube (2) in the housing, the sleeve (4) having a radially inwardly extending collar (14) at the through-passage (7), and an outer end (13) in the insertion opening (6) which is divided into a plurality of elastic cylinder elements (15, 16) diverging outwardly from the insertion opening when the sleeve is in an open position, the cylinder elements (15, 16) being separated by incisions (17) and each having on an inner surface (18) with at least one cam (8) extending radially inwardly for engaging a depression of the corrugated tube (2) in the sleeve, for locking the elastic cylinder elements to the tube when the sleeve is in a locked position in the housing, means for locking the sleeve in said locked position in the housing, the sleeve having an outer cylinder surface (19) with at least one positioning element (20) cooperating with the counterpiece (21) in the housing for retaining the sleeve to the housing when the sleeve is in the open position, the outer end (13) of the sleeve (4) defining an open space (22) between cams (8) of the elastic cylinder elements, having a free diameter when the sleeve is in the open position, which is at least as great as an outer diameter of the corrugated tube (2), the outer ring (23) of the housing locking the elastic cylinder elements (15, 16) against the tube when the sleeve is in its locked position.   
     
     
       2. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, wherein the counterpiece (21) for the positioning element (20) on the sleeve (4), is an aperture in the housing (3). 
     
     
       3. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, wherein said means for locking includes at least one of the elastic cylinder elements (15) of the sleeve (4) carries a locking element (24) disposed on the outer surface (19), the locking element (24) being disposed at a distance from the positioning element (20), the distance corresponding to a length of displacement of the sleeve (4) from the open position to the locked position, the locking element (24) in the locked position of the sleeve (4) engaging the counterpiece (21) in the housing (3). 
     
     
       4. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 2, wherein at least one of the elastic cylinder elements (15) of the sleeve (4) carries a locking element (24) disposed on the outer surface (19), the locking element (24) being disposed at a distance from the positioning element (20), the distance corresponding to a length of displacement of the sleeve (4) from the open position to the locked position, the locking element (24) in the locked position of the sleeve (4) engaging the counterpiece (21) in the housing (3). 
     
     
       5. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 3, wherein in that the positioning element (20) and the locking element (24) on the outer cylinder surface (19) of the sleeve (4) are each formed of an outwardly directed cam with an oblique ramp (25, 27) directed toward an inner end (12) of the sleeve (4), and an adjoining stop face (26, 28) extending approximately at right angles to a longitudinal axis (29) of the sleeve (4). 
     
     
       6. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, wherein between a front face (30) of the housing (3) and the counterpiece (21) of the positioning element (20), a recess (31) for introducing a tool is disposed. 
     
     
       7. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, wherein a region of the housing (3) between the front face (30) of the housing and the counterpiece (21) of the positioning element (20), is elastic. 
     
     
       8. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, wherein on the inner cylinder surface (11) of the housing (3) a longitudinal groove (32) and on the outer cylinder surface (19) of the sleeve a longitudinal rib (33) engaging said longitudinal groove (32), are disposed. 
     
     
       9. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, including a seal bonnet (34) in the area of the collar (14) . 
     
     
       10. Joining and attachment piece as stated in claim 1, including a groove (35) for receiving the positioning element (20) on the inner cylinder surface (11) of the housing (5) and adjoining the counterpiece (21) for the positioning element (20), in the direction toward an inner end (12) of the sleeve (4).